Animal Molecular Breeding 2024, Vol.14, No.2, 154-164 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/amb 154 Research Insight Open Access Using Quantitative Genetics to Improve Carcass Traits in Pigs Qiqi Zhou, Shiqiang Huang Tropical Animal Resources Research Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572000, Hainan, China Corresponding author: Shiqiang.huang@hitar.org Animal Molecular Breeding, 2024, Vol.14, No.2 doi: 10.5376/amb.2024.14.0017 Received: 27 Jan., 2024 Accepted: 05 Mar., 2024 Published: 16 Mar., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Zhou and Huang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Zhou Q.Q., and Huang S.Q., 2024, Using quantitative genetics to improve carcass traits in pigs, Animal Molecular Breeding, 14(2): 154-164 (doi: 10.5376/amb.2024.14.0017) Abstract Pork is a significant component of global meat consumption, and carcass traits directly impact the economic value of meat. Quantitative genetics provides essential tools and methods for understanding and improving these traits. This study explores the application of quantitative genetics in improving pig carcass traits, examining heritability, genetic correlations of carcass traits, and the genetic architecture of economically important carcass traits in pigs. Additionally, this study compares the effectiveness of traditional breeding methods, marker-assisted selection (MAS), and genomic selection (GS) in improving carcass traits, and presents case studies demonstrating the practical application of these methods. The findings indicate that breeding strategies based on genetic information, such as MAS and GS, significantly enhance the efficiency of selecting for carcass traits. Case studies further validate the successful application of these strategies in real-world pig breeding programs and highlight areas for future research and improvement. By deeply understanding the principles of quantitative genetics and their role in the selection of pig carcass traits, this study provides a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for future breeding programs. The integration of advanced molecular marker technologies and genetic analysis methods can effectively improve breeding efficiency and accuracy, promoting the sustainable development of the pork industry. Keywords Pig carcass traits; Quantitative genetics; Breeding strategies; Marker-assisted selection; Genomic selection 1 Introduction Carcass traits in pigs, such as muscle area, fat content, and meat quality, are critical factors in the swine industry due to their direct impact on economic returns and consumer satisfaction. These traits influence the yield and quality of pork products, which are essential for meeting market demands and ensuring profitability for producers. For instance, traits like backfat thickness, intramuscular fat content, and muscle pH are closely monitored as they affect both the visual appeal and the eating quality of pork (Miar et al., 2014a; Miar et al., 2014b). The integration of carcass and meat quality traits into breeding objectives has become increasingly important to enhance the overall value of pork products (Miar et al., 2014). Quantitative genetics is a branch of genetics that deals with the inheritance of traits that are determined by multiple genes, often influenced by environmental factors. This field focuses on the statistical analysis of phenotypic variation to understand the genetic architecture of complex traits. Techniques such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS), quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, and heritability estimation are commonly used to identify genetic factors associated with economically important traits in livestock (Duarte et al., 2017; Falker-Gieske et al., 2019; Zhang et al., 2019). These methods allow researchers to dissect the genetic basis of traits and provide insights into the genetic correlations between different traits (Milan et al., 2002; Edwards et al., 2008). In animal breeding, quantitative genetics plays a pivotal role in improving desirable traits through selective breeding programs. By understanding the genetic parameters, such as heritability and genetic correlations, breeders can make informed decisions to enhance traits like growth rate, carcass composition, and meat quality (Miar et al., 2014a; Soares et al., 2022). The application of quantitative genetics in pig breeding has led to significant advancements in the selection for traits that improve both production efficiency and product quality. For example, the identification of QTLs and significant SNPs associated with carcass and meat quality traits has
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